Q Do any accident statistics include
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a reference to the effect with regard to accident proneness of fitting a radio into the cab of a typical long-distance driver?
I run a small fleet of long-distance vehicles and another operator has advised me to fit radios to all my vehicles whether or not the drivers like the idea. He states that he has had fewer accidents over the past two or three years since fitting radios to his own lorries.
ASome years ago a survey of car accidents
in a Continental country analysed the effects of various environmental conditions on the reactions of typical drivers, including regular listening to radio broadcasts. The survey concluded that a radio tended to reduce accidents in the case of long-distance drivers.
Of related interest, an earlier Continental survey stated that the presence of a passenger doubled a driver's accident proneness with the qualification that the "right typeof passenger had a favourable influence.
Judging by the report of a psychologist, drivers are more liable to be distracted by a radio during the first few days or weeks, of its use. Obviously a radio is normally less distracting than a talkative passenger. It is considered that a high-level investigation in this country of both these environmental influences would be well worth while.